A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 6:55 pm

I've had a '58 lo-boy for a few years now and have everything I need but time to restore it. yep all the parts I need are on the shelf but I can't pull the tractor out of service long enough to do the job properly. So another tractor to share the work may be the ticket. A Farmall A is available about an hour and a half drives away. The "A" has always appealed to me and the price seems good on this one so it may be worth a look. Going to look at it this weekend and because of the distance I'll likely either buy it or pass on it in one trip. The owner says he thinks it a '48. I can only hope the tag is still under the seat but if its not this may be tough. There are no hydraulics which suggests that its not a '48 but an earlier "A". Is there another visual tell that I can see as a difference between an "A" and a "super A"? Are the battery boxes or seat mounts different? Is there a carb change? Does the SA have a water pump and the A does not?Is there a magneto on the earlier "A" models and not on supers?Any help would be appreciated. There is not alot out there on the A farmalls as there is for the cubs.Thanks, Mike.

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:01 pm

The starter is different as well as the throttle quadrant , the SA has a dash and the A does not . That should be enough to tell the difference

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:09 pm

Boss Hog wrote:The starter is different as well as the throttle quadrant , the SA has a dash and the A does not . That should be enough to tell the difference

This what i need but what would one or the other look like? I've seen the dash that looks like a canned ham is that the one your referring to?I appreciate your input greatly thanks!Mike.Incidentally I hope your wife Joyce is doing well.

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

I dont have a SA dash handy but it is larger and the steering post bolts to and is a part of it Hope this helps

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:24 pm

Super A will have a place on the torque tube to mount touch control, A will not have the flat spot. super A has implement mounting pads on finals much like a cub, A does not have the same setup.

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:36 pm

thanks guys that helps alot!You know I've read that the "A"s are not worth as much as the supers but I actually like the look of that canned ham dash.With that said, what I can see of the only pic provided is there is a need for paint and a battery but it runs and rolls. I get the impression that a new clutch is going to be needed soon too. On the east coast does an asking price under a grand sound fare? lot of variables there i know but what do you think?Mike.

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:54 pm

You can see the Super A dash on this one...

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:56 pm

If it's a running A and it's under a thousand, buy it.

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:21 pm

Don McCombs wrote:If it's a running A and it's under a thousand, buy it.

The super dash reminds me of the cub "trimmed" dash. The dash seems like a great quick reference.One other thing i can ad to this is that when I bought my lo-boy cub, my first cub, I spent $1400 on it with a woods mower attached.Then another $300 for a snow plow, drawbar and mounts $150, stainless emblems $225, gauges, steering wheel, strainer, alternator, etc...$300-$400 and alot of that has yet to be installed. I may have been better off shoot for a restored cub. I don't want to fall into the same thing with the "A".I am liking that there are no hydraulics as its one less thing to perform service on. I also think I'd like the vintage look of the hand lift if I was to put a plow on it. Mike

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:31 pm

Here is a photo of a dash also. It is for a '48 SA. As said, if it is under $1000, sounds pretty good!

As an owner of a Super A, in addition to a Cub, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't as much info available for it like there is for the cub. But not to worry, some of the guys here know just as much about the SA (A) as the Cub, and have helped me out a lot! Good luck!

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:44 pm

As an owner of a Super A, in addition to a Cub, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't as much info available for it like there is for the cub. But not to worry, some of the guys here know just as much about the SA (A) as the Cub, and have helped me out a lot! Good luck!

Yes thats it. I 've learned more here in 30 minutes from you guys than i did from surfing the web for the last 2-3 days.That says alot.

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 9:21 pm

Super A will have hydrualics--A will not

Re: A & Super A, whats a quick way to tell them apart

Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:18 pm

NOT all Super A's had Touch Control, but most did. Another way to tell them apart is the implement mounting holes on the torque tube/bell housing are reversed, compared to a straight A. Here's an example of a straight (industrial) A.